Before you decide to relocate to Massachusetts, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Massachusetts that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2019-2023 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 51 places in Massachusetts with more than 12,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Massachusetts for 2025.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Massachusetts For 2025
What’s the most expensive place to live in Massachusetts? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Newton is the most expensive place to live in Massachusetts.
North Adams (the cheapest place to live in Massachusetts) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Massachusetts and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Massachusetts For 2025
/10
Population: 88,504
Cost Of Living Index: 191
Median Income: $184,989
Average Home Price: $1,202,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.5x
More on Newton: Data
The overall cost of living in Newton is 191. The median income in Newton comes in at $184,989 and the average home value is $1,202,500 for 2025.
/10
Population: 117,794
Cost Of Living Index: 174
Median Income: $126,469
Average Home Price: $1,040,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.2x
More on Cambridge: Data
The overall cost of living in Cambridge is 174. The median income in Cambridge comes in at $126,469 and the average home value is $1,040,500 for 2025.
/10
Population: 80,549
Cost Of Living Index: 157
Median Income: $127,056
Average Home Price: $899,400
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.1x
More on Somerville: Data
The overall cost of living in Somerville is 157. The median income in Somerville comes in at $127,056 and the average home value is $899,400 for 2025.
/10
Population: 35,270
Cost Of Living Index: 155
Median Income: $123,422
Average Home Price: $737,600
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.0x
More on Watertown Town: Data
The overall cost of living in Watertown Town is 155. The median income in Watertown Town comes in at $123,422 and the average home value is $737,600 for 2025.
/10
Population: 64,723
Cost Of Living Index: 149
Median Income: $116,560
Average Home Price: $705,700
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.1x
More on Waltham: Data
The overall cost of living in Waltham is 149. The median income in Waltham comes in at $116,560 and the average home value is $705,700 for 2025.
/10
Population: 663,972
Cost Of Living Index: 148
Median Income: $94,755
Average Home Price: $710,400
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.5x
More on Boston: Data
The overall cost of living in Boston is 148. The median income in Boston comes in at $94,755 and the average home value is $710,400 for 2025.
/10
Population: 59,062
Cost Of Living Index: 146
Median Income: $118,089
Average Home Price: $715,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.1x
More on Medford: Data
The overall cost of living in Medford is 146. The median income in Medford comes in at $118,089 and the average home value is $715,500 for 2025.
/10
Population: 29,488
Cost Of Living Index: 146
Median Income: $126,854
Average Home Price: $796,100
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.3x
More on Melrose: Data
The overall cost of living in Melrose is 146. The median income in Melrose comes in at $126,854 and the average home value is $796,100 for 2025.
/10
Population: 18,444
Cost Of Living Index: 144
Median Income: $144,259
Average Home Price: $792,400
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.5x
More on Newburyport: Data
The overall cost of living in Newburyport is 144. The median income in Newburyport comes in at $144,259 and the average home value is $792,400 for 2025.
/10
Population: 33,067
Cost Of Living Index: 142
Median Income: $142,788
Average Home Price: $567,100
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Franklin Town: Data
The overall cost of living in Franklin Town is 142. The median income in Franklin Town comes in at $142,788 and the average home value is $567,100 for 2025.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Bay State For 2025
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Massachusetts are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2019-2023 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Massachusetts to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 51 places in Massachusetts that have more than 12,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Massachusetts according to the data is Newton. We updated this article for 2025. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Massachusetts.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Massachusetts For 2025
Well, there you have it, the places in Massachusetts that have the highest cost of living, with Newton ranking as the most expensive city in the Bay State.
The most expensive cities in Massachusetts are Newton, Cambridge, Somerville, Watertown Town, Waltham, Boston, Medford, Melrose, Newburyport, and Franklin Town.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Massachusetts according to the data:
- North Adams
- Springfield
- Holyoke
For more Massachusetts reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Cheapest Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Most Dangerous Cities In Massachusetts
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Massachusetts
- Safest Places In Massachusetts
- Worst Places To Live In Massachusetts
Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newton | 191 | 88,504 | $184,989 | $1,202,500 | 6.5x |
| 2 | Cambridge | 174 | 117,794 | $126,469 | $1,040,500 | 8.2x |
| 3 | Somerville | 157 | 80,549 | $127,056 | $899,400 | 7.1x |
| 4 | Watertown Town | 155 | 35,270 | $123,422 | $737,600 | 6.0x |
| 5 | Waltham | 149 | 64,723 | $116,560 | $705,700 | 6.1x |
| 6 | Boston | 148 | 663,972 | $94,755 | $710,400 | 7.5x |
| 7 | Medford | 146 | 59,062 | $118,089 | $715,500 | 6.1x |
| 8 | Melrose | 146 | 29,488 | $126,854 | $796,100 | 6.3x |
| 9 | Newburyport | 144 | 18,444 | $144,259 | $792,400 | 5.5x |
| 10 | Franklin Town | 142 | 33,067 | $142,788 | $567,100 | 4.0x |
| 11 | Woburn | 141 | 41,205 | $107,754 | $641,800 | 6.0x |
| 12 | Gloucester | 139 | 29,862 | $87,898 | $587,800 | 6.7x |
| 13 | Quincy | 138 | 101,361 | $95,711 | $598,100 | 6.2x |
| 14 | Peabody | 137 | 54,180 | $95,278 | $566,200 | 5.9x |
| 15 | Winthrop Town | 137 | 18,807 | $106,357 | $606,900 | 5.7x |
| 16 | Malden | 136 | 65,509 | $95,298 | $607,500 | 6.4x |
| 17 | Everett | 136 | 49,236 | $79,658 | $605,200 | 7.6x |
| 18 | Beverly | 136 | 42,408 | $103,739 | $621,900 | 6.0x |
| 19 | Marlborough | 136 | 41,398 | $95,047 | $485,400 | 5.1x |
| 20 | Weymouth Town | 135 | 57,786 | $100,077 | $516,200 | 5.2x |
| 21 | Salem | 133 | 44,241 | $85,137 | $497,400 | 5.8x |
| 22 | Revere | 131 | 59,933 | $81,121 | $566,200 | 7.0x |
| 23 | Barnstable Town | 131 | 49,232 | $97,348 | $559,200 | 5.7x |
| 24 | Amesbury Town | 130 | 17,277 | $100,599 | $475,400 | 4.7x |
| 25 | Methuen Town | 129 | 53,043 | $103,270 | $472,200 | 4.6x |
| 26 | Chelsea | 127 | 39,460 | $72,220 | $476,500 | 6.6x |
| 27 | Lynn | 125 | 100,905 | $74,715 | $472,600 | 6.3x |
| 28 | Haverhill | 122 | 67,387 | $87,675 | $426,900 | 4.9x |
| 29 | Lawrence | 121 | 88,297 | $57,903 | $393,500 | 6.8x |
| 30 | Worcester | 120 | 205,501 | $67,544 | $339,500 | 5.0x |
| 31 | Northampton | 120 | 28,640 | $78,467 | $398,000 | 5.1x |
| 32 | Lowell | 119 | 114,799 | $76,205 | $395,100 | 5.2x |
| 33 | Brockton | 119 | 105,080 | $77,089 | $405,500 | 5.3x |
| 34 | Attleboro | 119 | 46,499 | $93,266 | $409,100 | 4.4x |
| 35 | Leominster | 119 | 43,697 | $81,556 | $345,000 | 4.2x |
| 36 | Fitchburg | 116 | 41,633 | $70,659 | $295,500 | 4.2x |
| 37 | Southbridge Town | 116 | 17,806 | $59,397 | $267,000 | 4.5x |
| 38 | Gardner | 114 | 21,075 | $62,948 | $271,300 | 4.3x |
| 39 | Taunton | 113 | 59,719 | $79,715 | $388,200 | 4.9x |
| 40 | Westfield | 112 | 40,673 | $82,847 | $295,500 | 3.6x |
| 41 | New Bedford | 111 | 100,731 | $56,025 | $324,400 | 5.8x |
| 42 | Fall River | 110 | 93,764 | $53,933 | $357,800 | 6.6x |
| 43 | Easthampton Town | 110 | 16,103 | $72,925 | $343,800 | 4.7x |
| 44 | Agawam Town | 109 | 28,510 | $82,359 | $290,000 | 3.5x |
| 45 | West Springfield Town | 108 | 28,635 | $70,401 | $307,900 | 4.4x |
| 46 | Chicopee | 107 | 55,213 | $66,927 | $251,800 | 3.8x |
| 47 | Palmer Town | 107 | 12,372 | $78,789 | $255,000 | 3.2x |
| 48 | Pittsfield | 105 | 43,559 | $68,386 | $233,700 | 3.4x |
| 49 | Holyoke | 104 | 37,949 | $51,892 | $255,300 | 4.9x |
| 50 | Springfield | 102 | 154,751 | $51,339 | $222,700 | 4.3x |
| 51 | North Adams | 101 | 12,660 | $48,521 | $185,300 | 3.8x |